Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-11
where the Ffr~s ssSsalxe % Zi0n'' WAS
PLANTED.

where the Ffr~s ssSsalxe 81 Zion'' WAS
PLANTED.
KIHr1ANp. OHIO, AND RS MEMORIES DEAR 10 TIE
MORMON HEART-soeEPH SMITHS STRANGE STORY
TRs LEGEND or THE ANGELS VISIT TO TINE KIRT-
LAND TEMPLE, ETC.
Special Correspondence ofthe EvESrSa.srak
KIKTIANp, ONO. April g.
Few events have occurred since the time
Aahomet, more marvellous than the rise and prog.
res OF the Mormon Church, or as they prefer 10 be
called. "The Church Of Latter Day saints
Tnat branch OF the great slstth family from
whch sprang the Mormon prophet possessed
many traits OF character which 10 the Close 90.
server would, In many respects, distinguish them
from the other members OF the race, and from the
community At large. We gather from a small
volume, written by the mother OF this extraordi-
nary man, that the family were English; that
tney were living In this country as early as 1885,
ana from that time down 10 Joseph many OF them,
at diver shines and places saw visions, and were
dreamers Of dreams.
The father OF the prophet was thus distin-
guiShed-could see q vision and dream almost
e2usa 70 ySSepn himself, but those wonderful rev.
elauons which were 10 usher In upon the world q
new dfspensatton and TO be the foundation OF new
reiigfon, In the light OF which the churches OF
ChrtStendom were TO wax Old as garment and dis.
appear-were revered for the son, now regarded as
people: He was born at sharon, Windsor County.
vermont. December %, 1915. AT ten years OF age
ne, with his father and family, moved TO Palmyra,
wayne County, New York, and, settling on a
nus f faIn E io9wed as beio the business Or
this time his education was sadly neglected. lie
knew little OF arithmetic, was poor speller, an
.e2tble. We cannot learn that he had any knowi-
edge OF grammar whatever. When quite young
as ne declares, he was often the subject OF deep
religious impressions, sometimes moving him 70
FINDING TIE LOST RECORDS
During one OF these strange experiences an angel
OF God met him, and they for q time held sweet
converse together. The angel told the boy, for he
was only II years old, that wonderful events were
about TO be given to the world; that the Ameri-
can Indians were the descendants OF the lost
tribes; that the records OF that ancient peo-
pie were preserved, and that IL he was faithful
God would make him an honorcd Instrument
gospeSoud be to the snSSeu OF m nsm
and finally was told that his sins were forgiven.
The angel did not leave him, however, without in
StructionS In regard TO the finding OF che lost
records. The next day he proceeded TO a high
hill, which he called Gomorrah, In Palmyra, and
under large stone found the mysterious plates
and with them were found two transparent stones
set In the rim OF a bow. This was called the Trim
and Thummim, and through its aid only could
the writing on the plates be made known. The
whole were enclosed In massive stone chest, and
there these records had lain, since Maron the
last OF the scr1bcs and the last OF his race, had
But at this time the young prophet was permit
ted only to look at them, not 10 handle or to pos
sess them, and not TIL after four years did the
angel deliver them into his hands. The reason
why he had not obtained them before was because
he had not implicitly obeyed the directions given
by the angel. His mother declares that a few days
before he did have them fairly In his hands, but
thinking he saw treasure where the golden
plates had lain he dropped them in order to secure
II, and when he would take them again, behold!
they had vanished, and he went home sorrowlng.
SMITHS FLIGHT WITH THE pI ArEa
Having finally gained the records and the knowl-
edge getting among the neighborS, they gathered
into mObs and would have robbed him; SO he fed
to Penn, the plates concealed In barrel OF beans
Here, by inspiration OF God and the use OF the
"U1m and Thummim," this strange writing was
deciphered and made known to the world. A
scribe was employed TO write the translation, word
by word, as 1t came from the lips OF the prophet
At length the translation was complete, was pub
nShed and 1000 copies were sent out In Subse-
Quent editions the text was In many cases revised
II is quite difficult now TO obtain a copy OF this
first edition.
To the saints this book of Mormon is OF equal
authority with any book OF the common Bible, or
all together. 1t was OFTEN called, years ago. the
"Golden Bible" 1t is as implicitly believed as the
Psalms OF David, or the writings OF the apostles;
more than that, 1t stands In relation to the New
Testament as the new does TO the old As the New
Testament is the evidence OF a new dispensation
superseding the old where not confirmed, so this
supersedes the new. Smith declares himself, in
one OF his Visions that the Angel OF the Lord Told
him in answer 10 the question, (which sect is
right, which sect shall Join." .'None; all are
wrong. They are denominations in the sight OF
the Lord" SO a new church was organized, Smith
being baptized by his scribe, and he baptiZng his
scribe In return. Soon four others submitted TO
they came together and were united into church.
and Its name was "The Church OF Jesus Christ OF
Latter day Saints" Such was the beginning OF
M0rmOnism. 1t claims TO have restored the ancient
faith OF the church, that In consequence all the
gifts, such as prophecy, revelation, healing. &C..
are IN Il, and even raising the dead, lie within its
THE FIRST STAKE OF zIoN
The church grew and increased nightly, and I'm
1881 the prophet came to Kirkland. Its soil was
fertile the climate salubrtOus and here he stuck
the first "stake" OF Zion, and here the faithful
were commanded to gather But Kirkland was
not the only place. Missouri was selected as an.
other point where a stake OF Zion should be
placed. Men were sent there, preaching by the
way, bought land, quarreied with the people, and
were barbarously driven out; bought again, and
again were driven from their homes by numerous
mobs.
Meantime kirkland was booming One ever
continuous stream OF Mormon emigrants poured
over and into her borders Some possessed MEANS
grew into village and the village into CITY. and
&C one time there were said TO be 5000 MOrrnons
in Kirkland. The writer OF this article lives in the
township, was born there, and knows whereof he
speaks. For two miles and more, In any direction
from the temple, the land was almost entirely
tied by Mormons You may discover to-day, In
wandering over this sacred land the signs or ior-
mer habitations. The pillow has obliterated many,
but in the fields, in the woods, down IN some
rayine, or by some spring, many nay stin be seen.
stone or two, redeemed by the hearth-nreS that
glOwed with heat and comfort SO many years ago;
an apple tree, gnaried and old; flower set by lair
hands, still blooming and dying, gives mourniul
testimony OF the deSolation that overlook that
people. But, whatever faults the MormOns may
be Justly charged with, want OF economy, energy,
and thrift are not among them. Not much more
than year had passed since the prophet appeared
In Kirkland than revelation was received CON-
mandfng that mouse OF the Lord should be built
and giving directions how TO build IL.
THE FIRST TEMPLE.
The work was Immediately commenced, and, In
the short time OF two years. completed The build
ing was simply magnificent. No building in the
whole West could compare with il. IL was OF
stone found In the hin mile south. Its length is
- feet, width 90, and 80 feet TO the caves. The
cost was $40, COO There was great rejoicing when
dedication came Li9iln IN